Mad Men 3x11

We haven’t heard much recently about Dick Whitman, the birth name of our Don Draper, the Mad Ad Men at Sterling Cooper on Madison Avenue, or about Anna Draper, whose husband, the real Don Draper, got killed in Korea. One day Betty is doing to laundry and happens upon the key’s to Don’s desk drawer. Out of curiosity she uses it, only to find her husband’s deed to Anna Draper’s house, plus a box full of Whitman family photos! She doesn’t know what to do. At first she’s waiting for Don, but then she puts everything back. Later she talks to her father’s lawyer, who advises her against divorce: Don’s a good provider, Bets could lose custody of the children. “It’s a lie so big,” Bets sighs. She goes back home and when Don arrives, she orders him to open the drawer. “You know I know what’s in there,” she tells him.

“I can explain,” he replies quietly... And she’s actually giving him a chance to explain ... and we are treated with some of the best TV we could ever hope for: emotionally gratifying, profoundly touching, excellently, expertly acted, superbly shot. Don tells Betty about his poor upbringing and how he found it easier to assume Don Draper’s identity than to start over after Korea. She argues that she doesn’t even know who he is now. “Yes you do,” he replies. During Halloween Trick-or-Treating the next evening, they all go out, and this man (the husband of Betty’s friend) says to Sally and Bobby, “We’ve got a gypsy and a hobo,” and glancing at Don, he asks, “and who are you supposed to be?” What an amazing show! Did I tell you that before? Man, if you’re not watching Mad Men you should run out and get the DVDs. It’s stupendously wonderful!